Minister: Golden Rice to be released soon

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has said a new variety of rice “Golden Rice” helpful to fight the vitamin A deficiency, will be released soon.

He came up with the information after a meeting with members of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) at the secretariat on Thursday, reports UNB.

Dr Razzak said: "Golden rice is more important than the other varieties of rice as it will be helpful to fight the vitamin A deficiency. The rice variety has already got clearance in USA, Canada and Australia.

"A committee of the Ministry of Environment will give the clearance for the production of Golden rice. We will be able to start cultivation of the rice in Bangladesh within two-three months upon getting ministry clearance," he said.

The different varieties of rice now available in the market contains low quantity of vitamin and this new variety will help to meet the need of vitamin A.

The minister said: “Quantity of vitamin A is very low in the rice which is being consumed by the people in the country.

Most of the people of our country live on rice. They also do not take sufficient vegetables, for that the demand of vitamin A remains unfulfilled mostly. When golden rice will be produced, the demand of vitamin A will be fulfilled.

“Besides, it also will be also easier to cultivate golden rice in coastal areas, combating the salinity condition,” added the minister.